Arkansas Capitol briefs

LITTLE ROCK — A bill that would require Amazon to collect sales taxes in Arkansas cleared a Senate committee Wednesday.

The Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee gave a “do pass” recommendation to Senate Bill 140 by Sen. Jake Files, R-Fort Smith, which would require an out-of-state seller that sells more than $100,000 worth of products in the state or makes at least 200 transactions in the state in a calendar year to begin collecting sales taxes.

The measure would allow the state to take a seller to court to recover sales tax revenue.

The bill goes to the Senate.

House panel advances Capitol monuments bill

LITTLE ROCK — A bill that would require an act of the Legislature before a monument could be placed on or removed from the state Capitol grounds cleared a House committee Wednesday.

The House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee endorsed House Bill 1273 by Rep. Kim Hammer, R-Benton.

In 2015, the Legislature approved a bill by Sen. Jason Rapert, R-Bigelow, calling for a Ten Commandments monument to be placed on Capitol grounds at private expense. Since then, groups have submitted applications to the state Capitol Arts and Grounds Commission for permission to place other monuments at the Capitol, including one in the likeness of the Satanic creature Baphomet, one honoring separation of church and state and one honoring Gold Star Families.